Get Informed: Vitamin E
Active Ingredient(s)
Vitamin E
What does it do?
This product is commonly used as a nutritional supplement, and is believed to have antioxidant properties.
- Last Text Update:
- 2009-Nov-20 6:30 PM
- Last Data Update:
- 2009-Nov-20 6:53 PM
Other Names
- Vitamin E
- VIT E
- Tocoferol
How Safe Is It?
- Your Risk Rating
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- Average Risk Rating
-
- Pregnancy Category:
- N/A
- Black Box Warning:
- No
Facts & Figures
- Date Approved
- 01 Jan 1938
- Est US Patients*
- 1,847,000
- Generic Available
- Yes
- OTC Available
- Yes
User Age Distribution*
< 21
21-39
40-59
60+
Age (Years)
* Estimated number of US people currently taking Vitamin E or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.
Recent alerts for Vitamin E
There have been no alerts regarding Vitamin E during the past year.
Vitamin E Safety Report
Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings
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What is Vitamin E used for?
iGuard.org is currently tracking more than 10,800 patients that use Vitamin E (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.
| Disease / Condition | % | Average Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Dietary Supplement | 41% | 
|
| Heart Disease Prevention | 33% | 
|
| Skin Health | 28% |
|
| Immune Support | 16% |
|
| Fibrocystic Disease | 8% |
|
| Eye Health | 8% |
|
| Wound Healing | 8% |
|
| Menopausal Symptoms | 7% | 
|
| Insomnia | 2% |
|
| Fibromyalgia | 2% | 
|
| Diabetes | 2% |
|
| Irregular / Painful Periods | 2% |
|
| Other | 8% |
|
How well does Vitamin E work?
iGuard.org regularly polls our more than 10,800 users taking Vitamin E (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM) . This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iguard.org.
Average Satisfaction Score
(out of 10)
Average Effectiveness Score
(out of 10)
- 80%
- of patients are confident that the good things about Vitamin E outweigh the bad things.
- 13%
- of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Vitamin E.
Common Side Effects of Vitamin E
iGuard.org regularly polls our more than 10,800 users taking Vitamin E (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.
5% of patients experience side-effects on Vitamin E
< 1% of patients experience signifcant side-effects on Vitamin E
Most Common Side Effects...
-
= 10%
Less than 1%: Abdominal Pain
Global Patient Feedback for Vitamin E ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
I take a 200mg supplement of Vitamin E each day for eye health. I have a rare eye disease called retinitus pigmentosa and I've read scientific reports recently that call into question whether, or not 400mg/day of Vitamin E could make this condition worse. Thats why i dont take anymore than 250mg a day of Vitamin E. Its a great anti-oxidant.
28 year old Male
Posted: 2009-07-14 04:04:18
Question/Comment:
Two Internal Medicine physicans in the last 4 years (one very recently)have advised me not to take Vitamin E because of recent studies that indicate that it could lead to heart disease. Do you have some more recent studies that dispute those findings?
62 year old Female
Posted: 2009-05-25 16:40:08
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
The results of a 2005 study published in a major medical journal (Journal of the American Medical Association), showed that vitamin E may have some unwanted effects in certain patients. The study was called "The HOPE and HOPE-TOO Trial Investigators".
The study found that long-term vitamin E intake in patients with vascular disease or diabetes does not prevent cancer or major cardiovascular events and may increase the risk for heart failure.
In general, clinical trials have not provided evidence that routine use of vitamin E supplements prevents cardiovascular disease or reduces risk of complications or death from cardiovascular disease. However, participants in these studies have been largely middle-aged or elderly individuals who had heart disease or risk factors for heart disease. Additional research needs to be conducted to determine if vitamin E has any value for younger, healthier people at no risk of heart disease.
The National Institutes of Health has a website that describes results of many of the studies that have been conducted with vitamin E: http://ods.od.nih.gov/FACTSHEETS/VITAMINE.ASP#h6
If you still have questions about vitamin E, it is best to follow up with your internist or your cardiologist for a personalized evaluation of your risks and benefits from taking vitamin E.
Posted: 2009-05-25 22:31:16
Answer/Reply:
My doctor recommended that I not take vitamin E as well.
70 year old Male
Posted: 2009-06-02 16:19:29
Answer/Reply:
About vitamin E. My Aunt who is going to be 90 this August has been taking it every day for 35 yrs with no side effects. People can't believe she 89. She only had 1 very mild stroke about 6 years ago.
65 year old Female
Posted: 2009-06-05 16:54:54
Answer/Reply:
I have been taking vitamin E for years without any side effects. If you want the scoop on vitamins and heart disease go to dr.sinatra.com. He is a cadiologist and recommends suppilments to protect the heart. Vitamin is one of them!
55 year old Female
Posted: 2009-06-05 19:32:45
Question/Comment:
i have taken vitamin e and c 1000 mg for over 30 years i am 68
70 year old Male
Posted: 2008-08-06 17:08:05
Question/Comment:
Some i-Guard users say they use Vitamin E for skin health; does it improve skin health if you take it orally or do you have to use it topically?
25 year old Female
Posted: 2008-07-15 17:16:16
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
Vitamin E is regulated by the FDA as a nutritional supplement - meaning it does not have FDA approval for specific indications. However, the iGuard site primarily deals with the safety of oral medications so it's likely that members are using the oral form of vitamin E to improve their skin health.
Posted: 2008-07-16 11:35:45
Answer/Reply:
Vitamin E comes in a gel capsule to be taken orally.
61 year old Female
Posted: 2009-01-05 23:17:01
Answer/Reply:
I have used Vitamin E for many years. I have had very good results on my skin. Just stick capsule with a pin and apply to skin. Great cure................
62 year old Female
Posted: 2009-02-26 19:19:52
Question/Comment:
Ask questions and study things you will take into your body. Don't just take something not knowing about them. Doctors are notorious for not telling you a lot. Guess they think you will come up with the side effects they tell you about which isn't fair to the patient. I tell one doctor side effects and he ALWAYS says says they aren't related! I know some are.
58 year old Female
Posted: 2008-03-10 00:00:00
You may post comments for the benefit of other patients or post questions other patients might be able to answer. Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Only your age and gender will be published with your comment, although your other user details will be securely recorded for verification purposes.
Comments may be either questions or answers to previously posted questions. Any iGuard.org user may post questions and reply.
21
Patient Comments about
Vitamin E